Celebrating National Martini Day

Today is National Martini Day, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to mark the occasion. Break out the gin and vermouth (or vodka, if you’re feeling crazy) and put on a “James Bond” marathon … it’s about to get real classy up in here.

Foodimentary supplied the following fun facts, and I think it best to read them while sipping from a chilled glass with blue cheese–stuffed olives:

The Martini, gin and vermouth, is probably the most popular and widely consumed cocktail. Its origin is in dispute, but it dates back to about 1862.

The Martini’s popularity has waxed and waned, and its recipe has changed considerably over the years.

Going from an original mixture that contained more vermouth than gin, garnished with a lemon twist; to 2 to 1 gin and vermouth; to a 15 to 1 mixture; and finally straight chilled gin.

There is also the Vodka Martini.

The standard Martini garnish is an olive, but garnish it with a pearl onion and it is called a Gibson.

I’m no mathematician, but any cocktail with a 15:1 ratio is right up my alley. Here’s a super simple (and delicious) recipe to celebrate in style:

WATERMELON MARTINI

INGREDIENTS

4 large watermelon chunks

12.5ml lemon juice

25ml gomme syrup

37.5ml vodka

DIRECTIONS

Muddle the melon and syrup to extract all the juice; add the rest of the ingredients and shake it really well in your cocktail shaker.

Double strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a watermelon sail.

Check out more selected recipes for the happiest of hours. Sip safely, my friends.